U.S. patent number 7,284,789 [Application Number 10/512,942] was granted by the patent office on 2007-10-23 for crossmember.
This patent grant is currently assigned to BEHR GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Walter Wolf.
United States Patent |
7,284,789 |
Wolf |
October 23, 2007 |
Crossmember
Abstract
The invention relates to a crossmember for a motor vehicle. Said
crossmember (1) is composed of a base body (2) and a reinforcement
(3) and has at least one wall (22) running transversally to the
crossmember (1).
Inventors: |
Wolf; Walter (Oppenweiler-Zell,
DE) |
Assignee: |
BEHR GmbH & Co. KG
(Stuttgart, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
29265088 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/512,942 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2003 |
PCT
Filed: |
May 02, 2003 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP03/04610 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
November 01, 2004 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO03/104061 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
December 18, 2003 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20050253423 A1 |
Nov 17, 2005 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
May 4, 2002 [DE] |
|
|
102 20 025 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/208; 180/90;
296/193.02; 296/70 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D
25/145 (20130101); B62D 29/001 (20130101); B62D
29/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60J
7/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;296/208,192,193.02,70
;180/90 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
690 09 002 |
|
Sep 1994 |
|
DE |
|
44 09 081 |
|
Apr 1995 |
|
DE |
|
196 26 441 |
|
Jan 1998 |
|
DE |
|
299 16 466 |
|
Dec 1999 |
|
DE |
|
100 46 120 |
|
Apr 2004 |
|
DE |
|
0 796 769 |
|
Sep 1997 |
|
EP |
|
1 136 345 |
|
Sep 2001 |
|
EP |
|
2 783 489 |
|
Mar 2000 |
|
FR |
|
WO 03/104061 |
|
Dec 2003 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Patel; Kiran B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Foley & Lardner LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A crossmember for a motor vehicle, comprising a basic body
having an elongated shape adapted for installation across a forward
portion of a motor vehicle passenger compartment, the basic body
having a shell of bent sheet metal forming an internal volume and a
longitudinal axis extending along the elongated shape; a
reinforcement member comprising a plurality of rib elements that
are attached to the basic body within the internal volume along the
longitudinal length of the basic body and at least one wall member
positioned within the internal volume of the basic body and
extending at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
crossmember basic body, wherein the wall member is manufactured
from a metal sheet, is connected to the basic body and comprises at
least one connection for connecting the crossmember to a portion of
the motor vehicle.
2. The crossmember as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one
wall member is configured in such a way as to form a passage
between the wall member and the basic body.
3. The crossmember as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rib elements
are formed of sheet metal and comprise a three-dimensional pattern
that forms a passage between the ribs and the basic body.
4. The crossmember as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pattern of
the rib elements forms intersections at an angle of 45.degree.
+/-10.degree. with respect to the longitudinal direction of the
crossmember.
5. The crossmember as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rib elements
are V-shaped and are fixed to the basic body at the ends of their
V-limbs and to each other at their central vertex regions.
6. The crossmember as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an air
duct arranged between the basic body and the reinforcement member,
the air duct passing through the passages formed between the at
least one wall member and the basic body and through passage formed
between the rib elements pattern and the basic body.
7. The crossmember as claimed in claim 6, wherein the airduct is
made of a plastic material.
8. The crossmember as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement
member further comprises additional elements selected from the
group consisting of tension elements, compression elements and
combinations thereof.
9. The crossmember as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body
comprises substantially a U-shape in its cross-section transverse
to the longitudinal axis.
10. The crossmember as claimed in claim 9, wherein the two
longitudinal edges of the U-shape are bent outward forming an edge
region extending longitudinally along each side of the U-shape.
11. The crossmember as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least
one wall member comprises a flanged wall portion that extends
parallel to the two edge regions of the basic body, and the at
least one wall member is secured to the basic body at the flanged
wall portion.
12. The crossmember as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body
comprises a channel-shaped depression for the insertion of an
airduct.
13. The crossmember as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
reinforcement member of the crossmember comprises at least two of
said wall members positioned within the internal volume of the
basic body and extending at an angle with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the crossmember, wherein the wall members are
arranged parallel to one another.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a crossmember for a motor vehicle.
An aim of motor vehicle manufacturers is to reduce the weight of
motor vehicles. For this reason, DE 100 46 120 A1 describes a
component of hybrid construction for a motor vehicle, in particular
a crossmember for the cockpit region, in which the crossmember is
designed as a lightweight component with a shell-shaped basic body
and with reinforcing ribs consisting of molded-on plastic. In this
case, at least one duct is entirely or partially injection molded
together with the reinforcing ribs in the interior of the basic
body. The duct serves, for example, for conducting air of an air
conditioning system. However, a component of this type leaves
something to be desired.
Starting from this prior art, it the object of the invention to
provide an improved crossmember.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a crossmember for a motor vehicle, in
particular for the cockpit region, in which at least one wall
running transversely with respect to the crossmember is provided.
In particular, a wall is provided at the ends of the crossmember
(A-pillar connection), in the region of the connection for the
airbag, steering system and tunnel strut and wherever else holders
are required.
A passage is preferably provided between the wall and basic body.
In particular, an air duct which is part of an air conditioning
system can run through the passage, but also a duct for the wiping
water for the headlights or the windshield, cooling water, oil,
compressed air or the like, if appropriate also for the protected
laying of cables, petrol lines, oil lines, compressed air lines or
the like may also be provided. The air duct may be inserted or
injection molded, for example. The insertion or injection molding
of the air duct affords the advantage of enabling plastics which
are more reasonably priced to be used, since the static is absorbed
by the other elements, in particular by the basic body, the walls
and optionally provided reinforcements, which are manufactured in
particular from metal.
The wall preferably consists of a metal sheet, in particular of
steel, aluminum of magnesium, and has connections at which the
crossmember can be attached to an A-pillar or the like or at which
other elements can be attached to the crossmember. As an
alternative, other metals, in particular high-strength metals, may
also be used.
The wall preferably forms part of the elements which are to be
attached to the crossmember, such as, for example, the A-pillar
connection, the steering system, the support for the scuttle, the
holder for the gearshift mechanism, electronic box, glove
compartment, airbag, knee bag, instrument panel, the channel strut,
the pedal block and the central consoles. In this case, the walls
or their functions are integrated directly in the attachment
element or the wall entirely or partially takes on the functions of
the attachment elements, for example forms parts of an airbag
housing. In this case, the attachment elements and the walls may
also, however, be of multi-part design. This enables a further
reduction in weight to be achieved.
The crossmember, for reinforcement, preferably has ribs, rib
elements and/or tension elements and/or compression elements which
are attached to the basic body. In this case, the reinforcement is
preferably a cast part, sintered part or forged part which is
manufactured, in particular, from steel, aluminum or magnesium. The
wall may, for example, also be integrated directly in the
reinforcement, i.e. may be part of the reinforcement. In
particular, the reinforcing elements are arranged at angle of
45.degree. +/-10.degree. with respect to the longitudinal direction
of the crossmember if the crossmember is subject to bending and
torsional loading.
According to one alternative embodiment for pure bending loading,
the crossmember, for reinforcement, has ribs, rib elements and/or
tension elements which are attached to the basic body and are
arranged at angle of 0.degree. or 90.degree. with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the crossmember.
According to one preferred embodiment, the rib elements have a
V-shaped design and are preferably attached to one another in such
a manner that they are fixed with the ends of their limbs to the
basic body and with their central regions to each other. As an
alternative, however, elements which correspond to a plurality of
rib elements connected in such a manner may also be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is explained in detail below using a plurality of
exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawing, in
which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspectively illustrated crossmember according to
the first exemplary embodiment,
FIG. 2 shows an illustration of a wall in a basic body according to
the first exemplary embodiment,
FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a variant to FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 shows an illustration of a rib element according to FIG.
1,
FIG. 5 shows an illustration of a first variant of a rib
element,
FIG. 6 shows an illustration of a second variant of the
ribbing,
FIG. 7 shows an illustration of a third variant of the ribbing,
FIG. 8 shows an illustration of part of the ribbing from FIG.
7,
FIG. 9 shows an illustration of a fourth variant of the
ribbing,
FIG. 10 shows an illustration of a fifth variant of the
ribbing,
FIG. 11 shows an illustration of a further exemplary embodiment,
and
FIG. 12 illustrates the placement of the crossmember according to
the invention in a typical, schematically shown vehicle body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 12 illustrates the placement of crossmember 1 of the invention
in the cockpit region of a vehicle body 16.
FIG. 1 shows a crossmember 1 according to the first exemplary
embodiment, which is designed as a crossmember for a motor vehicle.
The crossmember 1 has a basic body 2, which is formed from a
sheet-metal bent part, and a ribbing 3 which is joined onto this
basic body 2 and is likewise manufactured from sheet-metal bent
parts, referred to below as V-shaped rib elements 4. The connection
between the ribbing 3 and the basic body 2 takes place, for
example, by means of punch rivets. One rib element 4 is illustrated
in simplified form in FIG. 4. The rib elements 4 are arranged in
the basic body 2 in such a manner that they are fixed with the ends
of their limbs to the basic body 2 and with their central regions
to each other. In this case, the rib element 4 form a pattern, the
individual lines of which, which are formed by the ribbing 3, are
at an angle of approx. 45.degree. with respect to the longitudinal
direction of the crossmember 1. According to a first variant of the
ribbing 3 that is illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of individual
rib elements are of integral design or are designed such that they
are connected fixedly to one another, thus providing relatively
large rib elements 104 which, however, are joined together in a
manner essentially corresponding to the rib elements 4 and the
function of which corresponds to that of the rib elements 4.
As is apparent in particular in FIG. 2, the basic body 2 has an
essentially U-shaped profile, with the two ends being bent outward
and forming an edge region 5. For reinforcement of the outwardly
pointing edge region 5 the ends may also first of all be bent
outward and then a subregion of the ends may be bent back again,
with the result that two sheet-metal layers running parallel to
each other are provided in the edge region 5. The lower region of
the basic body 2 has a channel-shaped depression 10 which serves
for the insertion of an air duct 11. The V-shaped rib elements 4
have corresponding cutouts 12, pointing toward the basic body 2,
with the result that the air duct 11 can have a circular cross
section.
Walls 22 which are formed by metal sheets and run transversely with
respect to the longitudinal direction of the basic body 2 are
provided at the ends 20 of the basic body 2 and in the region of
the steering-system connection 21. One wall 22 is illustrated in
simplified form in FIGS. 2 and 3. The walls 22 also have cutouts
23, corresponding to the rib elements 4, with the result that the
air duct 11 can easily be inserted into the crossmember 1.
Connections 24 are provided on the walls 22. These connections 24
serve to connect the crossmember 1 to the A-pillars of the motor
vehicle or to connect the steering system of the motor vehicle (cf.
FIG. 2).
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality of walls 22 may also
be arranged parallel to one another.
The fastening of the rib elements 4 may take place in any desired
manner, for example by means of pressure joining, welding, bonding,
snap fasteners, clamping or foaming into place.
According to an alternative embodiment which is not illustrated in
the drawing, the basic body consists of a profiled metal sheet
which is formed in a U-shape and, corresponding to the first
exemplary embodiment, is provided with rib elements.
A second exemplary embodiment is briefly described below with
reference to FIG. 6, in which parts which are identical or act in
an identical manner bear reference numbers which are higher by 200
than in the first exemplary embodiment.
According to this exemplary embodiment, instead of the V-shaped rib
elements 4 straight rib elements 204 are provided in the
crossmember 201, said rib elements running in each case at an angle
of approx. 45.degree. transversely over the crossmember 201 and not
intersecting. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the
function of a wall is taken on by a rib element 204. However, the
walls may also be arranged in accordance with the first exemplary
embodiment. Thus, according to the exemplary embodiment, a
connection 224 is provided directly on a rib element 204 serving as
a wall.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show a third exemplary embodiment having rib elements
304 running perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis
of the crossmember 301, this arrangement being suitable in
particular for pure bending loading. In this case, the rib elements
304 may also fulfill the function of the walls at the same
time.
According to the fourth exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9,
as the ribbing 403 for the crossmember 401, rib elements 404 which
correspond to those of the preceding exemplary embodiment are
provided and, in addition, wires 404' are stretched, with two wires
404' intersecting. The deflection of the wires 404' on the edge
region 405 of the basic body 402 takes place by means of bolts 430.
As an alternative, prongs, hook-shaped elements or any other
desired fastening or deflecting devices may be provided. Instead of
wires, cables or other tensioning means may also be used.
Furthermore, the use of pressure transmission means, for example of
rods, is possible. In this case, the rib element 404 may be omitted
in order, for example, to save on weight and costs.
The angle at which the wires 404' are stretched with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the crossmember 401 is approx.
45.degree., in particular 45+/-10.degree..
Under the wires 404', in the regions to be reinforced, i.e. in
particular in the regions in which connections are to be provided,
walls with connections (not illustrated) are provided in accordance
with the first exemplary embodiment. In this case, the walls may
also protrude over the wires 404'. The wires 404' may also be
fastened, for example, in the region of the walls or to the walls.
The design of the walls corresponds essentially to the design of
the walls 4 of the first exemplary embodiment, with the result
that, in turn, an air duct 411 can be accommodated in the
crossmember 401. The air duct 411 may, for example, be a plastic
blow-molded part which is inserted before the assembly, but it may
also be inserted subsequently.
FIG. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment according to which the
ribbing 503 is formed by rib elements 504 in the manner of a cover
which is placed onto the basic body 502 and has struts which run
obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the
crossmember 501 and have reinforced edge regions which take on the
function of the ribs. In this case, walls to which elements which
are to be connected to the crossmember 501 can be attached or with
the aid of which the crossmember 501 can be fixed in place are not
provided on the basic body 502, since devices, i.e. connections
524, corresponding to the walls are provided directly on the rib
elements 504. As an alternative, devices corresponding to the walls
may be joined to the rib elements 504. In principle, it is also
possible to provide additional walls. The reinforced edge regions
which are bent upward in FIG. 10 may also be bent inward, which
reduces the constructional space required.
FIG. 11 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, according to which two walls 622 are provided in the
crossmember 601, said walls being connected to each other in the
longitudinal direction of the crossmember 601 in such a manner that
they take on the function of a housing, in the present case the
function of the airbag housing.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
1, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601 Crossmember 2, 402; 502 Basic body 3,
403, 503 Ribbing 4, 104, 204, 304, 404; 504 Rib element 5, 405 Edge
region 10 Depression 11 Air duct 12 Cutout 20 End 21
Steering-system connection 22, 622 Wall 23 Cutout 24, 224, 524
Connection 104 Wire 130 Bolt 404' Wire
* * * * *